Simmer Pots
Published Dec 03, 2024•Updated Nov 06, 2025
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The coziest way to get into the spirit of the season is with a fragrant simmer pot. Simmer pots bubble away on the stove, making your home smell delicious. These are perfect for gifting in the fall – I actually taught hundreds of kids how to make these at my fall cooking classes last year. Use these for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just to make your home smell extra cozy for fall. This recipe includes free printable stickers in case you want to make a large batch of these for gifting!
I teach cooking camps for kids over Thanksgiving break, and by far, the most popular activity is always to make Christmas simmer pots. Okay maybe the most popular activity was making hot cocoa cookies. (It’s hard to compete with cookies.) Simmer pots are the second most popular. We actually called them Thanksgiving simmer pots, but you can easily mix it up depending on the season and call them fall or winter simmer pots, Christmas simmer pots, or holiday simmer pots. The free printable labels I made will allow you to customize the text (more on that below).
If you’ve never made or used a simmer pot before, get ready to be charmed. It smells like apple cider simmering on the stovetop and can make your house smell delicious for hours.
What is a Simmer Pot?
A simmer pot is a simple, natural (food-based) way to make your home smell delicious by simmering a mixture of water and aromatic ingredients on the stove. The ingredients can include almost any mix of spices, fruit, or herbs and herbs. As the mixture heats up, the steam releases the scents into the air, filling your home with a cozy, inviting fragrance.
These are most common during the colder winter months and typically contain ingredients we associate with Thanksgiving and Christmas like cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. They’re a clean, fresh alternative to synthetic home fragrances. And you can compost them when you’re done with them!
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Grab the Free Printables
Because I used these in a class, I created a simple printable that I’m making available to you too!
To print these, simply purchase 2” diameter sticker labels (I use Avery 22877).
Christmas Simmer Pot Labels
- Free Christmas PDF (use this one to print without making changes; no sign-in required)
- Free Christmas Canva Template (use this one if you’d like to customize the labels; must create a free Canva account)
Thanksgiving Simmer Pot Labels
- Free Thanksgiving PDF (use this one to print without making changes; no sign-in required)
- Free Canva Template (use this one if you’d like to customize the labels; must create a free Canva account)
Tools for Making a Batch
You can make one simmer pot at a time, but if you’re making a bunch to give as gifts, simply set up a station and let your kids assemble them. The complete list of supplies you’ll need is:
- Clear bags (I use 18” clear piping bags)
- Twist ties or ribbons to close the bags (I use these natural twist ties)
- Labels for the bags (I use Avery 22877 labels and the free printable above)
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fresh cranberries
- Mandarin oranges
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional, but nice if you want to add something green)
See the printable recipe card below for measurements.
Gifting Simmer Pots
These are one of the sweetest, most affordable gifts you can give around the holidays. And they’re great for kids to make because you can assemble them in small bags without the need for any heat or cutting.
Deliver them to family members, neighbors, teachers, or friends. I also like to keep the ingredients on hand around the holidays and take them as host gifts or just mix one up for myself if we have people coming over for dinner.
How to Use the Simmer Pots
When you’re ready to use your simmer pot, simply slice the oranges in half and combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan with 4 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, so that a few bubbles rise to the surface every few seconds. Give it 5 to 10 minutes and the scent will start to fill your house.
Simmer pots will continue to release scent for hours! Just keep an eye on the pan and add additional water any time it gets low.
More Easy Recipes That Make Fun Gifts
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Simmer Pot Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- 18" Piping Bags
- Twist Ties
- Avery Labels
Ingredients
- 2 small mandarin oranges (sub 1 navel orange)
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Slice the oranges in half.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan with 4 cups of water.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over low-medium heat. The simmer pot will start to release its fragrance after a few minutes.
- Simmer for up to a few hours, keeping an eye on it, and adding more water any time the liquids get low.
- While the strength of the fragrance will start to diminish, you can remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. Cover it and leave it out overnight and then use it again the next day.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Smells amazing 🙂